(aka Bishop Fish)

The sea monk, or sometimes monk-fish, was the name given to a sea animal found off the coast of Denmark almost certainly in 1546.

At this time it was regarded to be a sea monster and described as a “fish” that looked superficially like a monk.

It was mentioned and pictured in the fourth volume of Conrad Gesner’s famous Historia Animalium.

Gesner also referenced a similar monster found in the Firth of Forth, according to Boethius, and a sighting off the coast of Poland in 1531.

According to legend, he was brought to the king of Poland, who wanted to keep it. It was presented to a group of Catholic bishops, who he asked for his release gestures. They gave it to him and to thank them, he made a sign of the cross and disappeared into the sea !

According to the Historia Animalium by Conrad Gesner, fish-Bishop was captured near the German coast in 1531. He refused to eat and died three days later.

The sea monk was subsequently popularised in Guillaume du Bartas epic poem La Sepmaine; ou, Creation du monde where the poet speaks of correspondences between land and sea.

“Seas have (as well as skies) Sun, Moon, and Stars;
(As well as ayre) Swallows, and Rooks, and Stares;
(As well as earth) Vines, Roses, Nettles, Millions,
Pinks, Gilliflowers, Mushrooms, and many millions
of other Plants lants (more rare and strange than these)
As very fishes living in the Seas.
And also Rams, Calfs, Horses, Hares, and Hogs,
Wolves, Lions, Urchins, Elephants and Dogs,
Yea, Men and Mayds; and (which I more admire)
The mytred Bishop and the cowled Fryer;
Whereof, examples, (but a few years since)
Were shew’n the Norways, and Polonian Prince.”

sweet little buddy, isn’t it ?